Amputation of all five fingers of one hand

Medical records documenting the amputation of all five digits of the affected hand are the foundation of a rating under this code. Operative reports, pathology records, or discharge summaries that confirm the extent and level of the amputation help establish what was removed. A VA or private examination report that clearly identifies which hand was amputated — and confirms that all five digits are absent — supports the distinction between the major and minor hand ratings.

Records that identify your dominant hand are also relevant, since that is typically how VA determines major versus minor. Your own statement, or a statement from someone who knows you, describing which hand you relied on before the amputation can help clarify this. If a prosthesis has been prescribed, fitting and usage records may appear in your file, but the rating under this code turns on the fact of amputation and hand dominance, not prosthetic use. Exam findings confirming the residual limb and the absence of all five digits directly tie to the criteria above.